Westland Whirlwind Fighter

[forget]

I'm sure you know that the voltmeter will not have been unique to Whirlwinds. Take a look around e-bay, find one that looks exactly like your photograph - and bingo. Here's something very close, 5U/1693, from Spitfire/Lancaster and many others no doubt.

PS. You'll notice the small variations below - but same Part Number. From this - I'd say you could safely use either in the fair assumption that only one AM Spec existed for 40V meters and that Whirlwinds, somewhere, could have been fitted with any variation.



..... and another.

[Mr BlueSky]

Forget,

I agree with you about Westlands probably used whatever they could get their hands on, but I still would like to find the actual one they used in the both the early Whirlys up to P6983 and P6984 aircraft

I'm worried if I stray from what we knowwas used, there will be someone that will whinge about it not being correct...

bral.

Hmmm the wHIRLY Parts AP, thats a bit of a sore point with me... I had a copy from the RAF Museum but lent it to someone who was also making a Whirly cockpit for him to scan. But he moved away and would not answer any of my emails that I sent! Silly of me I know. Trouble was I barely looked through it at the time, so don't really know much about exactly what was in it... D'oh!

I think it cost £120 for both the parts and the repair AP's, but that was about 4-5 years ago now, so I would expect it to be a bit more now... Will have to get in touch with them again to find out...

[Mr BlueSky]

It looks more like this:

[Double Zero]

----------------------

[forget]

I agree with you about Westland probably used whatever they could get their hands on …

Not quite the point I was making. The original Air Ministry/Ministry of Aircraft Production Type Spec will have included all required instruments, one of which was a Meter, Electrical, 40 Volt DC, Aircraft for the Use Of. Another Spec will have covered the Meters themselves, which will have been farmed out to various manufactures resulting in slight cosmetic differences. This spec required the ident numbers 5U/1693. Westland would have ordered under 5U/1693 so, in my opinion, you’re fireproof using either of the above.

… but I still would like to find the actual one they used in both the early Whirlys up to P6983 and P6984 aircraft.

That’s the point, I don’t think there is an ‘actual one’. Anything with 5U/1693 on the face will have met the aircraft spec.

Anyway, let’s see some current progress photographs. And what happened to Double Zero’s post. Seems he has the info you need.

PS. Another variation on the same part number.

[Mr BlueSky]

Forget.
Here are a few of the instrument detailing I’ve already done, showing the position, use and if possible colour photographs…

These are just the named instruments, theres still all the rest of the gubbings that go to make everything work…







This is one I could do with some help with, can’t find a quality colour photo of a Type P6 anyone got one?



Sorry, at the moment I’ve not got the authority to post any of the WIP shots… We’re keeping it under wraps until the model is released, which is still sometime in the summer...

[Mr BlueSky]

Whirlwind Data Plate, Standard Issue?

Are the layouts of these standard, meaning would the layouts of say a Hurricane Merlin data plate be the same as one for a Whirlwind Peregrine?

Once again theres only the one photo of the Whirlwinds data plate... I've enlarged it by 200% and enhanced it see here both a positive/negative image.



Can anyone tell me are these standard data plates issued by Roll-Royce?

I've already tried R-R Derby and they say they haven't any information for the plates used in the Whirlwind...

[Mr BlueSky]

Westland Whirlwind, Hood operation help needed...

So how would you use it, pull the handle out from stop on the quadrant (Would the handle be spring loaded to automatically locate it the quadrant stops?) and then turn it anti-clockwise to open it to the desired position, although I can only see four locking positions on the quadrant. Also you can open it from the outside by pushing it, so that would mean it would not lock automatically, so not spring loaded then? Would the mechanism be ratchet driven or steel cable, best estimate as to how many turns to open it?
Help please gentlemen… :o
Items: 67. Hood operating handle 68. Hood - Handle locking quadrant

[sycamore]

I would imagine that the external button will release the cranking handle from it`s locked spot,allowing the canopy to be pushed open from outside. From inside ,the crank is turned in either direction,until it is open as far as you want ,and then released to `spring` into the nearest hole. It would be best if it was chain operated rather than cables ,which can stretch,either due temperature changes,or forceful cranking,but as it`s a WHL product,possibly cord.....See a Jet Provost 3/4 for something similar.

[Vitesse]

Possibly rack and pinion?

Would mean a rack extending well forward of the handle location. Looks as though there is a cover which could hide a rack.

I note the access panel sign to the left of the inset type - Not the easiest of places to work, surely.

[Double Zero]

Noting your address, I presume you are or have tried the museum near Weston ?

Hard to believe they wouldn't have the answer.

There is a decrepit Whirlwind at Tangmere, ask for someone from the engineering workshop ( Keith is chief ) 01243 790 090.

Beware they do have a winter close-down, but people are still busy there sorting displays etc, so you may get a decent reply.

[BEagle]

The question relates to a twin engined fighter, not some old helicopter.

[Double Zero]

Ahh,

THAT Whirlwind ! Hope you can understand my confusion, though I should have taken more notice of the cockpit photo's.

I think Eric 'Winkle' Brown test flew it, may be worth trying to contact him ?

A check of his book/s first would be an idea just in case it's mentioned, I'll have a scan through ' Wings On My Sleeve '.

The only person I knew who dealt with them is no longer with us, but being ( just ) effectively post-war, there must be a lot of people out there with the knowledge; maybe worth posting on the Military Aircrew forum too, with the explanatation someone's dad may have worked on / flew them ?

[BEagle]

As you know, Peter Twiss, of Fairey Delta 2 fame, flew Whirlwind P6994 in the USA briefly - before its engines were 'acquired' by some naval officer at Pensacola to use in a speedboat.

By all accounts the Whirlwind was in rather a sorry state when Peter Twiss flew it.

Ask around at Lasham Gliding Centre - they may be able to put you in touch with him.

Or get in touch with Chris Royle at White Waltham; they had an evening talk about the Whirlwind several years ago, but might still have some contacts.

[Double Zero]

Have checked Winkle Brown's ' Wings On My Sleeve ' - no mention of the Whirlwind.

In my bible, ' Test Pilots - The History of British Test Flying 1903-1984 ' by Don Middleton, it is mentioned that Harald Penrose did a lot of the development flying.

I hope I am right in thinking he is still with us and about to give a talk or two (forget where ) ?

No mention of the canopy mechanism of course, but one interesting feature was that the exhausts led through the fuel tanks !

Pilots and senior design staff made it clear what they thought of this but were overriden, and sure enough one day an exhaust melted through a fuel tank, without igniting it...

It did however burn through an aileron rod, leaving H.P. to fly back with full opposite aileron on & just rudder for turns - he made it OK, but I doubt being vindicated put him in much of a better mood !

[spekesoftly]

I hope I am right in thinking he is still with us and about to give a talk or two (forget where ) ?

Harald Penrose died well over ten years ago. Perhaps you are confusing him with Desmond Penrose?

[Double Zero]

OOPS !

Sorry about that, I thougt it was stretching the time frame a bit, but the name had caught my eye recently.

[Mr BlueSky]

Whirly 3D Replica...

Heres some low res footage of the Virtual model we've been putting together, these are only very early shots, when she was first imported into the sim, the FM needed some fine tuning...

We still need alot of material for the cockpit ,if anyone has some cockpit shots that they or their parents/Grand parents may have taken, we would be very interested to see some new material for our research...

Stu

YouTube - Whirlwind Flight01.mpg

[oldpax]

Whirly

excellent vid!!When will a wreck be found for restoration!Rumour has it there are two on Dartmoor somewhere!!(In a bog!)

[Mr BlueSky]

OldPax...

I thanks for the compliment...

But two Whirlys on Dartmoor you say, in a bog? Tell all please, cause its a new one on me...